When Steve left home, it was the easiest decision of his life. Not that it had gone smoothly. There had been yelling, broken china, and crying because Steve was not the perfect son his parents had wanted. They had found out about Eddie. The realization that their son was dating not just a guy but a drug dealer who lived in the trailer park and had the surname Munson had not gone down well.
But Steve didn't care. Because Eddie wasn't just those things to him, he was the guy who dove into a lake and into a hell dimension to save Steve's life. Eddie was the person who had almost sacrificed his life to keep their shitty town safe. The one Steve had brought back to life, nursed back to health, and fallen in love with.
So he left.
It had been almost six years and just as long since he'd talked to his parents. Between their jobs and the government hush money, Steve and Eddie had bought a house. The kids had grown up and left Hawkins, spreading out across the country to chase their dreams, and Steve was happy. So fucking happy. Because every morning, he got to wake up and see the person he loved most in the world, the person who loved him, too.
Loving Eddie was as easy as breathing.
"Steve, baby, c'mon, I'm gonna be late," Eddie laughed between kisses, making a halfhearted attempt to break free. "I love you, but we need the money."
"Mhmm, just one more minute."
It was more like five before Eddie finally freed himself, stepping out of Steve's reach. He fixed his bangs, squinting at his reflection. "You want Chinese tonight? I can pick some up on my way home."
"It's a date."
Eddie flashed Steve a grin, snatching up his keys as he leaned in for another kiss. "Every time, baby. I'll see you later."
"Bye, Ed." Steve missed him as soon as the door closed, even after all these years. It was stupid and familiar and everything he'd ever wanted.
Since it was his day off, Steve planned to tackle the back decking. The wood needed replacing, and Robin's foot had gone through it over the weekend, prompting Steve to move his ass. He was halfway through pulling up the rotten boards when someone rang the bell. Not expecting anyone because Eddie was at work and Robin was visiting Nancy in Massachusetts, Steve got up to answer.
To his very great surprise, it was his mother. "Mom?"
She smiled somewhat awkwardly at him. "Hello, Steven. Can I come in?"
Stepping aside to let her in, Steve led the way to the kitchen and sat at the table with her. She looked older, worn out, and somehow less defined. There were no flashy rings on her fingers or fancy clothes and hairdo. Steve could tell something big had changed.
"Why, um, why are you here?" He asked, breaking the very awkward silence.
"I left your father."
"Oh." Steve was not expecting that. All his life, she had followed his father around the world, often abandoning Steve in the process. She had never spoken out against him, even when Steve had been kicked out. "What happened?"
"Too many secretaries," She sniffed, fishing a handkerchief from her bag to dab at her eyes. "Your father will never change. I'm glad you didn't take after him."
"Hard to take after a man I barely knew."
She nodded, eyes downcast. "Yes, I suppose so."
"What do you want, Mom? You didn't come all this way just to tell me you guys split up."
"No. I have something for you." She dug in her purse again, bringing out a small velvet box. "This was your grandmother's. She made me promise to give it to you when you… found your person."
Steve raised his eyebrows as he took the box, already knowing what was inside. Sure enough, it was a diamond engagement ring. He didn't remember his grandmother because she had died when he was three years old, but he knew the ring meant a lot to her, and probably his mother too, which was why she hadn't given it to him before. "You know who I'd give this to, right?"
"I know. I knew when you left. You never did things in half, especially when it came to love." She got up, and to Steve's surprise, she came over to kiss the top of his head. "I'm sorry I wasn't the mother you needed. Maybe we can try again?"
Steve's hand closed around the box, and he found himself nodding. She was here and trying. He could try, too. "Okay."
Once she left, Steve went back to the decking, but he didn't get much done. He was too busy mulling over his mother and the gift now sitting on the kitchen table. He knew it was a family heirloom passed down generations. But that ended with him because where did it go after Eddie? Unless they had kids. Or maybe Max? He wasn't sure.
All he wanted was to talk to Eddie, and it had been a long day waiting for him.
"Honey, I'm home!" Eddie sang as the front door opened. "I got Chinese, beer, and a movie I promise you'll love!" His smile faded somewhat when he saw Steve, noting his subdued expression. "Hey, has something happened?"
"My mom stopped by."
"Shit, seriously?" Eddie set everything on the table to hold Steve's hand. "You okay?"
"Yeah. She just wanted to give me something." When Eddie raised his eyebrows, Steve pushed the velvet box towards him. "Well, it's for you, actually."
Eddie looked at the box, then back to Steve. "Is that what I think it is?"
"Oh yeah. So what do you say, Munson, fancy marrying me?"
"Wow. So romantic." Eddie opened the box to examine the ring. "Pretty. Doubt it'd fit, though."
"We could get it resized."
"You're serious?" Eddie searched his face, and then broke into his beautiful, blinding smile. "Well, what's one more broken law at this point?"
Steve picked up the ring and considered Eddie's hand. To his surprise and delight, it fit on Eddie's pinky. "Ha! Now it's official." It was hard to kiss Eddie because of how much they were both smiling, but somehow, they managed it. "I love you, Eddie Harrington."
"Nu-uh. I love you, Steve Munson."
They could argue about that later. For now, Steve just wanted to keep kissing Eddie, and he planned on doing that for as long as possible.